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Ratwall Drain Blocker – Rat Flaps

We have recently completed a job for a tricky rodent clearance, whereby we were required to install a rat drain blocker. It’s a one way non- return flap, which is installed into the furthest drain outlet on your site perimeter to stop rats from entering your property through the drain systems.

The rat flap idea was first thought up by a Danish company. In Denmark, local councils are required by law to fit these units as standard into all new build housing. They are a great way of containing rodent infestations into an area where you can control them by sewer baiting. A safe and secure way of dealing with a rat population. So why haven’t we caught on to this idea in the UK yet!?

A recent report by a large London based pest control company, has seen a dramatic increase of rodent infestations gaining access to properties via the drain systems over the last 10 years.
This has lead to a large percentage of their current work (around 70%) being solely rat flap installation. It is fast becoming a popular fix or even a requirement throughout the industry, especially in urban areas.

At Bentley Environmental we are slightly more rural based, so we haven’t had a huge demand for these units yet! But that’s mainly because a lot of the properties we look after have their own sewage system in place, also known as cesspits. So unless rats dig into the drain pipes, the rat flaps aren’t required.

All pest technicians should carry out checks to the drain systems when carrying out a site survey for rodents. Sometimes we are called in after another company have failed to remove a rodent problem and the customer asks why we’re checking the drains…

If you’re experiencing problems with rodents or would like to just be proactive and have peace of mind that your drains are secure. Please reach out to us and book a site visit or for more information on rat drain flaps at bentley.env@gmail.com or visit our contact page

We have spent the morning installing some wire meshing around open eaves on a customers property. They have suffered in the past with squirrels nesting in the loft spaces. This is due to there not being any soffit or fascia boards protecting the eaves, which we find is more common on older buildings.

Not to mention that grey squirrel populations are extremely high, so we are getting more jobs for proofing work and population control all over Hampshire.

It’s important to prevent entry to squirrels and other rodents, as once established within a loft, it can be tricky and costly to get them out again.

Did you know that Median Wasps like to build their nests in shrubs and trees. They are a European wasp that arrived in the UK back in the 1980’s and are slowly spreading across the country from the south up.

We’re finding we attend more jobs for these species of wasp each year.

The wasps haven’t been bothered by this heat wave we have in the south of England. It is a tad unpleasant for us pest controllers when we’re in full gear for a wasp nest treatment though! But I’d rather be safe than stung, I’m also happy to be busy and seeing new and old customers each day. Driving around the country lanes through Hampshire and Wiltshire in the summertime isn’t too much of a burden either!

Here’s another picture taken from a wasp nest treatment at one of our happy customers today. The wasp nests are growing in size quickly and I have definitely seen a rise in activity this year compared to the last few years.

If we can be of any help with a wasp nest problem, then please do get in touch. We’re always happy to help.

We’re starting to receive more call outs for wasp sightings and the start of wasp nest building. They’re quite small at the moment and don’t really pose a threat. But in around 4-6 weeks time this little nest we removed from a customers shed would have been roughly the size of a grapefruit. Had it been left longer this nest could potentially develop up to a beach ball size by the end of summer. Sometimes even larger!
Keep an eye out around your property for signs of wasps over the next few months, as the nests start to increase in size, activity around the nest area will increase, making wasps nests easier to spot.